Camera mechanism with correlated range and view finder and focusing projector



March 5, 1940. E. s. HINELINE 2,192,740

GAIERA MECHANISM WITH QQRRELATED RANGE AND VIEW FINDER AND-FUCUSINGPROJECTOR flrigiml Filed July 29, 1937 3 Sheets-$heet 1 I nvenior:EdsonfHziu/elziwe,

Mard'l 1940- E. 5. HINELINE CAMERA IECBANIS WITH CORRELATED RANGE ANDVIEW FINDER AND FOCUSING PROJECTOR Original Filed July 29. 193'? 3Shuts-Sheet 2 Invenfb z: Edson8.Hi/nelz ne,

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES CAMERA MECHANI SM WITH CORRELATEDRANGE AND VIEW FINDER AND FOCUSING PROJECTOR Edson S. Hineline,Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 29, 1937,Serial No. 7 156,360. Divided and this application June 13,

1939, Serial No. 278,887

3 Claims.

This application is a true division of my copending application Ser. No.156,360, filed July 29, 1937, which has issued as Patent No. 2,167,436dated July 25, 1939, and is filed for the purpose of receiving allclaims from said parent application directed to a correlted range andview finder and a focusing projector built into a camera mechanism forthe purpose of permitting accurate use of the range finder ininsufficient natural light. In order that the principle of the inventionmay be readily understood, I will disclose a single embodiment thereof,to which I am in no wise limited. r

The invention relates to a new camera with certain built-in coordinatedfeatures that enable the operator to carry out the various functions inmaking a photographwith great accuracy and rapidity. I

I One of the preliminary functions is that of positioning the lens insuch relation to the focal plane that the image formedatthe focal planewill be in sharp focus. There are several methods of doing this, some ofwhich are as follows: (a) focusing on a conventional ground glass Iscreen, or (1)) setting the camera to a predeter.

mined scale, either measuring or guessing at the distance,or (0) usingan optical device that is mterconnected with the moving front part ofthe camera which normally carries the lens. In the camera hereindisclosed this feature or optical device just referred to is built intothe camera and is permanently connected at all times. A furtherrequirement in photographing effectively is that theuser' may be able toview the exact a image thatis being photographed, and it is a greatadvantage that he be able to view this image while focusing and up tothe exact time of exposure. This is one of the cooperating built-infeatures of the camera herein disclosed;

It is frequently necessary to make photographs in places where theillumination is at a very low level, in fact so low that it isimpossible to focus either by the conventional ground glass method orwith an optical range finder. In the camera in which:

herein disclosed there is a built-in projector that Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of the camera with the door open and the bellows extended;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the camera with the door "open and thefront extended; v

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through a part of the camera showing thecoupling mechanism between the front of the c'amera'and the range findermechanism;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the camera with the range finder coverremoved to show the arrangement of the various parts that go to make upthe range findenthe placement of batteries and the battery contactmechanism for the builtin projector, as well as the photoelectric celland meter; 16 s Fig. 5 is a vertical section of Fig. 4 0n the line 5 -5thereof;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of Fig. a parallel to the section for Fig.5 but taken adjacent to the opposite side of the camera; and

Fig. '7 is a schematic diagramv of the range finder when employing theprojector .in correla-. tion, in insufficient natural light.

The invention is particularly directed to a camera having builtthereinto as correlated fea- 25 tures' a range and view finder and afocusing projector, whichare so coordinated as to provide a camerameeting all requirements of accuracy and rapidity of performance and yetcapable of being collapsed or closed into small com-' pass. Brieflystated, the features which are herein disclosed as built into the'camerain such manner that they combine in producing the desired results, area'range and view finder and a projector which'enables the'range finderto be employed even though the light is so poor that proper focusingcould not be done either with an ordinary optical finder or upongroundglass. I am aware that in combination range finders and view finders, ithas long been common touse in the optical group two mirrors, both ofwhich are in some cases stationary or one of which is mounted forrocking movement as in the German patent to Alard du Bois-Reymond,No.188,342, September 23, 1907, and in the United States 5 patent toWoodbury, No. 1,238,473, August 28, 1917. The range'finder hereindisclosed differs from all those of the prior art known to me ina numberof respects which willv be pointed out in detail and which includethemounting of a neg- 5O ative lens between two stationary mirrors, thesaid negative lens being operatively connected to the movable front orfront standard of the camera.

In the ensuing description,- I will set forth u numerous advantages thatflow from my invention, the selected embodiment of which is hereinshown. Without limiting my invention to the structure herein disclosed,I will now specifically refer to the selected embodiment or example ofmy invention, and will first refer to the construction shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3.

The box or casing of the camera is indicated at l in the figures whereinthe same is shown. It may be of any suitable character and construction,although it is herein indicated as the socalled Press type of camera,commonly known as the Speed Graphic Camera, to which type of camera myinvention is not limited, it being merely the selected embodiment of theinvention. The shutter plate of the camera is indicated at 2 in Fig. 2.the lens board is represented at 3, the upper latch for said lens boardat 4, and the lower latch therefor at 5. The focusing knob isrepresented at 6 and the focal plane shutter winding knob at 1. Therelease for the focal plane shutter is represented at 8, and the tensionknob for the focal plane shutter at 9. The carrying handle for thecamera is indicated at 10. The objective lens is represented at i2 inFig. 1, the shutter set lever at I3, the shutter release at l4, and thecamera bed at l5. The focal plane shutter curtain is not shown, but isprovided with upper and lower curtain rollers.

The front side rails of the camera are indicated at 20, the front sidebrace is indicated at 22, and the camera front clamp at III. Theforegoing features may be of any usual or suitable construction, andneed not be more particularly described.

The camera is provided with a combined range and view finder, which willbe described in detail hereinafter. The housing therefor is representedat 24 in Fig. 1, and in greater detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. It isprovided with a cover plate 25 and with a view and range finder lens 26,which, as clearly indicated inthe diagram, Fig. 7, is a negative lens.

The said range finder is a combination view finder and range finder bywhich I mean that the exact image is seen at all times through the lens26 when the range finder adjustment is taking place. Thus theoperator isviewing the subject up to the instant of making the exposure The saidview finder 25 is also one element of the range finder itself. Theelements that go to make up the range finder are more particularlydescribed hereinafter.

In order to provide operating means 'for the range finder, I havepreferably employed two cams one of which is indicated at 31 in Fig. 3,and which I term range finder focusing cams. The cam 31 is positionedfor short focus lenses and the other cam (not shown) would be positionedfor long focus lenses. I may within the scope of my invention employ asingle variable cam for this purpose and change the position thereoffrom that indicated in the several figures for cam 31 to the position ofthe other cam. I prefer, however, to employ two different cams.

The camerais provided with a front track, clearly shown at 29 in Fig. 1.The camera bellows is indicated at 30 and has the usual front board.

The so-called infinity stops are indicated at 34, in Fig. 3, and thecamera-front track shoes are indicated at 35. The track guide rails forthe camera are indicated at 36, and the retaining screws therefor at 31.I have provided lock screws for the range finder focusing cam orcams,the same being represented at 38 in Fig. 3, and which are employed forsecuring in position both the said focusing cam or cams. I also providein this connection focusing-cam adjusting screws shown at 39. A suitablelatch plate for the hinged front or door of the camera is provided, andcooperating therewith is a release button 4|, shown in Fig. 2. Adjacentthereto and suitably distributed are retaining screws 42 for the rangefinder cover 25. At the extreme left in said Fig. 2, the range findereye piece is indicated at 43. It is also shown in Fig. 4. Adjacentthereto, there is represented at 44 the photo cell meter. The exposurecalculator is indicated at 45.

Before describing in detail the range and view finder itself, I willfirst describe the preferred means for operating the movable elementthereof, namely, the negative lens positioned between two stationarymirrors. In order to move the said lens in causing the range finder tofunction, I may provide (though my invention is not limited thereto)substantially the same means for connecting said movable element withthe front or front standard of the camera that I employ in my co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 155,259, filed July 23, 1937, now Patent No.2,167,435, dated July 25, 1939, for turning the pivoted mirror in theoptical group shown in said application. My'invention is not limited tothe employment of any particular means for causing the conjoint movementof the camera front and the movable member of the optical group. Asstated, however, I

may employ substantially the-same connecting means, and I will nowproceed to describe the same specifically without limiting my inventionthereto, and in this connection I will refer particularly to Figs. 1 and3.

The so-called front standard or movable front of the camera is indicatedat 49. The rear bellows frame is indicated at 41 and attached thereto isa bracket 48 for the base rod or bar 49 of the toggle mechanism. Thesaid rod or bar 49 is pivoted to the bracket 43 by a suitable rivet 59,and is provided with two lengthwise extending slots 5|, which receiverivets 52, 52-that are'provided upon the innermost of the toggle arms53, 53. A number of toggle arms 53 are indicated which are all suitablyconnected by rivets 54. There is also provided a toggle arm centeringlink at 55 which connects the rod or bar 49 with one of the toggle arms53, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. Extending from rod or bar 49 andsuitably connected thereto by a rivet 56 is atogglearm-mechanism-connecting link 51 that is also connected by rivet58 to an arm 59 upon the range finder control rod or shaft 60, which ismounted in the camera casing in an upright position close to one wall ofthe camera casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and in a manner similar tothat disclosed in my said application Ser. No. 155,259. As clearly shownin Fig. 3, there is provided a clamp screw 61 for securing the arm 59upon the said rod or shaft 60.

The two slots 5|, 5| allow the rivets 52, 52 to slide toward thelengthwise center of the rod or bar 49 or away from the said centerdepending upon the distance the toggle joint has been separated. Inorder that the toggle joint mechanism may always travel centrally withrespect to the rod or bar 49, the short length bar 55 is provided, asalready stated. It is attached to one of the toggle bar arms 53 and tosaid bar 59 by shoulder rivets 50a.

Mounted transversely upon the camera front or front standard or upright46, I have provided a cam follower arm or member 52 which isprovided'with lengthwise extending slots 63, 33 in I which are receivedscrews 84, 84 for retaining the same but permitting it to be moved inthe direction of its axis under the influence of the focusingcam 31. Thesaid arm or member 52 is provided with a threaded hole for the receptionof a toggle arm connecting screw 56, by which the said arm or member isconnected to the toggle mechanism. The said arm or member 62 is providedwith a cam follower roller 61, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. There isalso provided in said bar or member a hole for the reception of a springIll by which the roller 51 is held in contact with the cam formation ofthe cam 31. The other end of the said spring Ill is secured in anopening in one of the camera front side rails.

It will be very clearly seen that any movement in a lengthwise directionof the cam follower bar 52 (that is, a movement transversely of thecamera) will transmit movement to the toggle joint bar 49 and thencethrough the link 51 and arm 69 to the range finder control rod or shaft50.

as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the camera case I is provided in the boxportion thereof with a short section of track indicated at lla, Ha,fastened to the said box structure by screws I lb. n the camera bed ordoor 85 are fastened camera track rails 38, 35 by screws 31, 31. Thecamera tracits 29, 29 slide in the said rails 35, 36 and are caused tomove forward and backward by means of the focusing knob 6, previouslyreferred to.

It will be understood that as the camera front or upright 56 is pulledforward, the cam roller 61 of the arm or member 62 will ride upon theedge of the focusing cam 21, or cam 28, as the case may be, causing thesaid cam follower arm or member 62 to move in a direction transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the camera. This momovements the roller 61follows the edge of the the back of the camera.

focusing cam 21 or cam 28, causing the cam follower arm or member 62 tomove in such manner as to move the slotted toggle bar 45 toward Throughthe link 51 the lever arm 58 a counterclockwise motion is parted to therange finder rod or shaft 60.

When the camera is closed for transportation or otherwise, the camerafront or upright 46 is caused to be slid all the way back by squeezingtoward each other the camera front locks, indicated at 1|), 1| in Figs.1 and 3, which causes the camera track shoes 35 .to be pulled towardeach other and thus to be released from the tracks 29 and allowed toslide freely thereon. When the camera locks Hf, H! are squeezed towardeach other and the camera front mechanism is pushed back, the shoes 35,35 override the tracks Ha, Ha. within the camera casing or box, thusallowing the camera to be completely folded, after which the camera dooror bed I5 is swung upon the hinge Hg into closed position.

I will now describe the range and view finder itself and the opticalgroup thereof, and for this purpose I will refer particularly to Figs.4, 5 and 6.

In Fig. 4, what I term a first-surface mirror is indicated at I2. It issupported in the housing 24 of the range and view finder by a lug orboss 13 formed on thewall thereof, and a stud 14. Thus the said mirroris stationarily mounted. The other mirror, which I'term asemitransparent mirror is indicated at 15. It also is statlonarilymounted, being for the purpose held in a front bracket I6 and a rearbracket 11 secured to the housing 24. By semitransparent mirror, I meanone that has a coating whose ratio of reflection to transmission iscontrolled by the amount of coating. The said two mirrors I2 and 15 aremounted parallel to each other, but the axis of each is at ninetydegrees to the axis of an intermediate negative lens 18, which ismounted in a bracket 19. The said bracket is secured by screws 80 to anarm or lever 8| that is pivoted on a shoulder screw 82 (Fig. 4) mountedin the housing 24, and which at its end opposite the negative lens 18 isforked as indicated at 83 to receive a cam 84 attached by a screw 85 tothe upper end of the range finder control rod or shaft 65, hereinbeforedescribed.

Before proceeding to describe certain additional features of the saidrange and view finder and the manner in which the same function, I willsufficiently describe the photo electric cell and meter and certainother parts which are mounted in the said housing 24 and which arecorrelated with and function with the range and view finder ashereinafter more fully set forth.

I have somewhat diagrammatically indicated a photo electric cell at 85,the lens whereof is indicated at 86a in Fig. 4, said cell being mountedin a bracket 81, being most clearly shown in Fig. 4. I am, of course,aware that exposure meters of various types have been employed in pho--tography. The one which I employ is of a standard photo electric celltype using a microammeter as an indicating device. I have, however, somounted a cell of that type that the reflected light which is measuredthereby is substantially the same as the light that passes through thecamera lens to make a photograph.

The photo electric cell herein disclosed, although generally of astandard type, is so constructed that the acceptance angle of the lightentering the photo electric cell is substantially the same as that ofthe angle of the lens making the photograph. Therefore, I obtain a truereading on the exposure microammeter which I have indicated at 88 inFig. 4, from whatever position the camera has when the exposure is beingmade.

In Fig. 5 there is shown the range finder aperture ferrule at 89, whichreceives therein the range finder glass 90 held in place in the ferruleby a ring 9!.

In making pictures with the ordinary optical finder or in focusing onthe ground glassof the camera when the light is very poor, suchOperation often takes place with the aid of photofiash bulbs orphotofiash powder combinations. In order to enable me, however, to usethe present camera at all times regardless of light conditions, and sothat regardless of said light conditions the camera can always beaccurately focused on whatever subject is being photographed, I haveprovided a projector which, as will be fully realized and understoodfrom the following description, coordinates and cooperates with therange finder. For that purpose I have provided the following mechanismwhich is most clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

In the casing 24 of the range finder is provided, as most clearly shownin Fig. 6, a projector housing or barrel 92 which carries a very smallor miniature bulb 93 with a tiny coil filament 94. In front of the saidfilament is placed a lens 95 held in the projector housing or barrel bya ring 96, Fig. 6. The position of the filament 94 in said bulb withrespect to the magnifier lens 95 is such that for all distances greaterthan five feet, the image of the filament 94 in Said bulb 93 isprojected in universal focus. The bulb 83 is not intended to illuminatethe scene or object being photographed, but its function is to projectan image which is the resultant light from the said filament 94 of saidbulb, onto whatever object is to be photographed. The range finderherein disclosed, in turn, then picks up the image of the filament'94 ofthe bulb 93 and the focusing adjustment is made precisely as whenfocusing in daylight. This is a new result and is an important advancein the use of cameras provided with range finders. I am entirelyfamiliar with several types of focusing devices wherein the filament isprojected for focusing purposes either through the lens of the camerathat makes the picture or by some other type of lens mechanism where thefocal length of such lens was very close to the focal length of thecamera objective lens. In such cases of the prior art, however, theoperator necessarily focused the image projected through whatever meansis employed, onto the object that is being photographed, and the errornecessarily was always very great because the further away the objectbeing photographed was from the camera, the less accuracy could be hadin focusing the image on the filament.

In the practice of my invention, the focus that is obtained on thefilament is in reality of no importance, for the focusing of thefilament may be considerably in error and yet a very sharp focus on thecamera lens with respect to the camera plate or film is obtained throughthe range finder,

The projector is provided with two batteries 81, 98 of the flashlighttype. A rear battery contact is provided at 99, as most clearly shown inFig. 4. A battery contact insulating strip is provided at I held inposition by screws IN, IN. The battery contact wire is indicated at I02.The upper switch plate of the battery is indicated at I03 in Fig. 4 andthe switch plunger at I04, it being also indicated in Fig. 2. A switchplate insulating block is provided as shown at I05, most clearly shownin Fig. 6, held in position by screws I06. The lower switch plate isrepresented at I01 and the photo electric cell meter retaining screwsare shown at I08 in Fig. 4. In the same figure the zero adjustment screwfor said meter is indicated at I09 and at the extreme right in saidfigure the battery retaining plug is indicated at H0, and the batteryretaining plug contact spring is represented at III. In Fig, 5, thelower insulating block is represented at II2.

As most clearly shown in Fig. 6, there is provided an eye piece lens 3which is held in position by a ring H4 in the range finder eye piece orferrule 43.

The projector bulb 93 is held in position by a screw H5 and the entireprojector assembly, housing or barrel 92 is held in position in therange finder element by a retaining screw II6. There is also provided,as shown most clearly at the left in Fig. 6, a switch insulating centerblock at H1 and a lower insulating switch block at III.

The two batteries 91, 88 are suflicient to illuminate the lamp bulb 93.The circuit is readily traced through the battery 98, battery 91,contact 99, wire I02, switch plate I03, switch plate I01, to the bulbcontact H9 in Fig. 6.

The structure of the switch I04 is most clearly shown in Fig. 6, and isthere indicated as a button. When the same is in the upper position asindicated in said figure, no current can flow from the contact I03 ofFig. 4 to the contact I01. When the said button I04 is pushed downwardthe contact I03 engages the contact I01, thus allowing the current toflow through the lamp 93, through the contact H9, through the bulb 93,through the lampor bulb base thereof, through the projector barrel orhousing 92 to the range finder casing or housing 24. In the said rangefinder housing 24, there is provided, as already stated, the plug I I0with the attached spring III, thus making the final contact to thebattery.

Having thus described the structure of the photo electric meter andparticularly of the projector as the same are built into the range andview finder housing, I will next refer to certain other features of therange finder and describe more fully the functioning thereof.

The cam 84 previously described as attached to the upper end of therange finder control rod or shaft 60, provides the means whereby the armor lever 8| is swung upon its pivotal shoulder screw 82. The negativelens 18 carried by the inner end of the said arm 8| has substantiallythe same curvature as the view finder lens 26. When the negative lens 18is in the so-called infinity position, it is with respect to its axis atan angle of about forty-five degrees with respect to the first-surfacemirror 12.

I have discovered that by making elements of the range finder ofdissimilar colors and particularly by making the lens 26 and thenegative lens 18 of dissimilar colors, I obtain a result greatlyfacilitating the accurate setting or functioning of the range finder.While I am not limited in my selection of colors, I desirably form thelens 26 of blue glass and the lens 18 of yellow or amber glass. The saidtwo colors are an example of so-called complementary or antagonisticcolors which, when mixed or blended, produce white or gray light. Othercomplementary colors are red and verdigris, orange and greenish blue,greenyellow and violet, green and purple, and bluish When the camera isout of focus, the general view as seen on the lens 26 through theeye-piece lens II3 (Fig. 6) is of a bluish color. The displaced image isrefiected through the mirror 12 and through the negative lens 18, isthen reflected by the mirror 15; and when viewed through the lens II 3is of a yellow color. When the two images exactly overlie or aresuperimposed one upon the other, the resulting color returns to normal,and there is a considerable stepping up in the brilliancy of the twoimages. In other words, when exact register is obtained, the image asviewed through the lens H3 is very much clearer than is either the imageas viwed on lens H3 or g on lens 18 when the two images are displaced.

Other color combinations may be used instead The operation of theoptical elements of the range finder when making an exposure and whenusing the projector is clearly shown in Fig. 7, to which I will nextrefer.

It will be assumed for purposes of description, but not of limitation,that the negative lens 26 is of blue glass and the movable negative lens18 is of yellow or amber color as marked in Fig. '7. The said negativelens 18 is of substantially the same focal length as the negative lens26. The firstsurface mirror is indicated at 15 and the semitransparentmirror at 12. I have indicated at 90 in Fig. 7 and also in Fig. l, apiece of glass which is placed in the range finder housing and is usedmerely as an enclosure to prevent dust from reaching the mechanism. Insaid Fig. '7, I have represented at right and left wavy lines A, A2.They are shown as spaced in said figure, but in reality they represent asingle object at infinity. The dotted lines B and C, althoughrepresented as parallel, in reality converge at an indefinite distance.An image of the wavy line A at the left is formed on the lens 26, andwhen viewed through the magnifier H3 is seen through the mirror 72 andwill appear in the magnifier H3 as the small wavy line a adjacent tosaid magnifier H3. The same image, but which is indicated as the wavyline A2 at. the right, will be viewed through the glass 90 on the mirror15, will be reflected therefrom and will appear as an image formed onlens 18, will be reflected by the mirror :12, and will be viewed throughthe magnifier H3, appearing as the small wavy line (12 adjacent the wavyline a near the magnifier I I3. The said two wavy lines a and a 2 nearthe magnifier lens I l 3 now exactly overlie each other and the camerais in focus at infinity.

When focusing at a nearer distance, the wavy line A is viewed throughthe lens 26, and again will be viewed as the said wavy line a throughthe magnifier lens I I3. The secondary image A2, however, will bedisplaced asindicated by the wavy line A3, shown as hatched. It will bereflected by the mirror 15, an image will be formed on the negative lens18 which will be reflected by the mirror '52, and will be viewed as theadjacent wavy line a3 (appearing as hatched) through the magnifier lit.If the lever arm 8| be swung in the direction of the arrow l2| thereon(which action takes place by reason of the movement of the camera frontforward with the objective lens through the range finder connectingmechanism, as previously described), such action will cause the saidwavy line a3 to move into the position of the dotted wavy line a4adjacent the magnifier lens H3. It will be reflected by mirror 12 andwill be viewed through the magnifier H3 as such dotted wavy line a4adjacent the magnifier lens H3. The wavy lines 414 and a exactly overlieeach other under these conditions, and the camera will be in focus forwhatever distance the object represented by the wavy lines A and A2 isfrom the camera. Adjacent the mirrors T2 and I3 I have indicated, intheir corresponding positions, the wavy lines above referred to.

I will now particularly refer to the operation when focusing the cameraunder what I term insufiicient natural light conditions and in thatconnection will refer to the said diagram, Fig. '7. I have in theforegoing description fully set forth that a projector, such as the bulb93 with filament 94, is provided which'can be illuminated by pushingdown the button I04. The image of the filament 94 is projected throughthe magnifier lens 95 and will fall on the object being photographed.

I am thus able to use the range finder in insufilcient natural light,and indeed in the substantially total absence of natural light. This hasnever before been satisfactorily accomplished so far as I am aware.

It will be observed, viewing Fig. 2, that the switch plunger I04 extendsthrough the top of the camera casing in close proximity to the cameracarrying handle it, so that while the left hand of the operator isholding the camera a finger of that hand can at the proper time pressdown the plunger I04, and thereby illuminate the tiny projector bulb 93.The right hand of the operator can be used to turn the focusing knob 8,thereby imparting movement to the range finder control rod or shaft 60and other parts, as fully explained. Thus, in the disclosed embodimentof the invention, the fingers of the left hand of the operator are usedto illumine the projector and cause the image of the tiny filament 94 tobe thrown onto the object to be photographed, and at the proper time thefingers of the right hand of the operator are employed to turn thefocusing lmob 6. These two features which intimately cooperate infunction are thus under the manual control of the operator.

I am, of course, aware that photo fiash bulbs have been attached tocameras carried in the hand, and that such photo flash bulbs are underthe manual control of the operator of the camera. Such photo fiash bulbsare used only for the purpose of making an exposure, and they are ofsuch power as to illumine the entire object, which is necessarily orusually very close at hand.

I, on the contrary, use the illuminable projector only for the purposeof throwing an image 'of the tiny filament 94 onto the object which Idesire to bring into focus by means of the range and view finder. Withthe small amount of illumination provided by the filament 94, it wouldbe impossible to focus on an object in total dark ness if the light ofthe illumination were caused tospread over' the entire object. Myinvention, on the contrary, is directed toward suitable means of using avery small source of electrical power and a very small light bulb to getsufilcient illumination on a particular spot to enable the cameraoperator to focus the camera very accurately on that spot. Therefore, Iconcentrate all of the illumination given off by the filament 94 of thetiny bulb 93 into a very small area, thus intensifying the illuminationin this area. There is a period between light and dark in the normal daywhen the light from the sun is insufiicient to allow the operator tofocus with any degree of accuracy, and in which situation an ordinaryflash light adds practically no illumination. By my invention asembodied in the apparatus herein shown, through the concentration of thelight into a very small area, that area is very brilliantly lighted, andthat area is confined to an image of the filament. It is this image ofthe filament onto which the operator focuses. I have found in practicethat with the described small source of power (namely, the two verysmall fiash light cells 91, 98), I am enabled accurately to focus on anobject fully a hundred feet away. It will be readily apparent,therefore, that if it were attempted to illuminate any great area to betaken in by the photograph, the operator would be compelled to have manytimes greater electrical power to illuminate the area sufficiently so asaccurately to focus.

It will be observed, viewing Fig. 7, that the center of the filament 94of the tiny electric bulb 93 is substantially on the center line of thenegative lens 26. The spot light must be located relatively close tothis position shown in order to function properly.

I have in the foregoing part of the specification indicated that insteadof employing two focusing cams 21 and 28, I may adjust, lengthwise thecamera bed IS, the focusing cam 21. It is to be understood, however,that this could be done only if the cam to be adjusted lengthwise thecamera bed is itself provided with means for varying or adjusting theedge thereof, inasmuch as the cam shape necessarily varies with eachlens of a different focal length. Therefore, in practice, each focusingcam is used only for a lens of a given focal length. However, I mayprovide a focusing cam which itself has a form or edge that can bevaried or adjusted and therefore adapted to be used in differentpositions along the camera bed.

I will now briefly refer to the manipulation of the camera the structurewhereof has been fully described.

The door l5 of the camera, which when opened out constitutes the bedthereof, is opened by first pressing the button 4|, shown in Fig. 2.This depresses a latch I22, so that said latch is disengaged from thebed latch plate. The door l6 can now be opened. The camera front 46 isnow pulled outwardly from the camera box by squeezing toward each otherthe camera bed locks Hf. The camera front is pulled out until the trackshoes 35 contact with the infinity stop blocks 34 on the tracks 29. Thecamera front 46 will then be in the infinity position for the lens whenusing range finder dam 31 with a short focus lens. However, the camerafront 46 can be moved further forward by turning the knob 6, which isattached to a shaft I23 carrying a pinion I24. Said pinion meshes with arack attached to the camera tracks 29. By turning the said knob 6 in aclockwise direction, the tracks 29 are caused to move forward, carryingtherewith the camera front 46, the camera front rails 26, the frontbellows frame or board, the shutter and the lens l2. The bellows 36being attached to the bellows frame or board is also moved forward. Whenthe camera front 46 with the said parts is moved forward to the positionshown in Fig. 3, the adjustment is correct for making an exposure for adistance of five feet. By merely turning the focusing knob 6 forward orbackward, the camera front 46 with the objective lens, etc. can beadjusted to any position from five feet to infinity. When using a camerafor known distances, this method of operation is quite satisfactorywithout using the range finder. The foregoing description of operationapplies when the camera is equipped with a short lens, such as a 5%" ona 3 x 4% camera. If, for example, the camera is changed to a 6 lens, theinfinity blocks 34 are accordingly changed, and other movements are madethat are not necessary to state in detail. The camera front 46 can bemoved to any position along the scale provided, by turning the focusingknob 6 in the manner described.

As already stated with reference to Fig. 4, any motion imparted to therange finder control rod or shaft is transmitted to the cam 84 and willcause a movement of the negative lens supporting arm or lever 6|. If thecamera front 46 is moved in the forward direction, or for taking aphotograph'at a closedistance, the cam roller 61 is caused to travel upon the cam face I21 of the cam 31, causing the rod or bar 49 of thetoggle mechanism to be moved in a lengthwise direction toward the top ofthe sheet viewing Fig. 3, thus imparting clockwise motion to therange'finder control rod or shaft 60. Also a clockwise motion isimparted to the cam 64 which causes the arm or lever ll to be moved inthe direction of the arrow I26 on Fig. 4.

While I have shown and described in detail cer- I tain mechanicalconnections between the movable camera front 46 and the range findercontrol rod 66, it is to be understood that I am not limited to the useof said mechanical connections, but that such other means may besubstituted as will provide for the correlative movement of the saidparts, the illustrated means having been selected merely as one exampleor embodiment of means that may be employed for the purpose.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, itis to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims,

which are directed solely to the combination exsting between the rangeand view finder and the iiluminable projector both built into the camerastructure for coordinated action, each of said features being manuallyoperable by the operator in proper timed relation to each other withouteither feature interfering with the operation of the other feature.

I claim:

1. Means for range-finder focusing of a photographic camera ininsumcient or wholly lacking natural light, including, in combinaton, amain camera casing,.a movable objective lens carried thereby movable toand fro for focusing purposes, a range finder formed structurally as aunit with said camera casing, and including among its parts a viewinglens and an optical ele ment movable in the functioning of the rangefinder, said objective lens and the movable element of the range finderbeing operatively connected so that the functioning of the range findercoincides with the focusing of the objective lens, and an illuminableprojector secured structurally to the camera casing to constitute a partof the camera unit, said projector including an electric light bulbsecured in such relation to the viewing lens of the range finder thatthe range finder viewing lens and said bulb may both be directed at thesame time toward the object to be photographed, and means carried by thecamera and accessible to the operator thereof while using the rangefinder of the camera, whereby, when said projector is illuminated andthe image therefrom is projected on the object to be photographed as animage of the filament of the projector bulb and while said objectotherwise remains in insuflicient or wholly lacking natural light forphotographing and is otherwise wholly unilluminated, the said objectivelens may nevertheless then be focused upon the object to be photographedthrough the functioning-manipulation of the said movable-element rangefinder, while said image is so projected on the object to bephotographed, the projected image of the filament thus being used as afeature in the adjustment of the range finder.

2. Means for range-finder focusing of a photographic camera ininsufilcient or wholly lacking natural light, including, in combination,a main camera casing, a movable objective lens carried thereby movableto and fro for focusing purposes, a range finder formed structurally asa unit with said camera casing, and including among its parts a viewinglens and an optical moa'no element movable in the functioning of therange finder, said objective lens and the movable element of the rangefinder being operatively connected so that the functioning of the rangefinder coincides with the focusing of the objective lens, and anilluminable projector secured structurally to the camera casing toconstitute a part of the camera unit, said projector including aminiature electric light bulb secured in such proximity to the viewinglens of the range finder and in such relation thereto that the rangefinder viewing lens and said bulb may both be directed at the same timetoward the object to be photographed and means carried by the camera andaccessible to the operator while using the range finder, whereby, whensaid projector is illuminatedand the image therefrom is projected on theobject to be photographed as an enlarged image of the filament of thesaid projector bulb and while said object otherwise remains ininsufficient or wholly iackng natural light for photographing and isotherwise wholly unilluminated, the said objective lens may neverthelessthen be focused upon the object to be photographed through thefunctioning-manipulation of the said movable-element range finder, whilesaid image is so projected on the object to be photographed, the saidilluminable projector and the said range finder each being manuallyoperable by the operator as stated while holding the camera, in propertimed relation to each other, without the manual operation of eitherinterfering with the manual operation of the other.

3. Means for speedy, range-finder focusing of a photographic camera ininsumcient or wholly lacking natural light, including, in combination,a, main camera casing. a movableobjective lens carried thereby, movableto and fro for focusing purposes, a range finder housing structurallyattached to the camera casing at the top thereof, with the camera heldupright, a range finder in said housing and including among its parts aviewing lens and an optical element movable in the functioning of therange finder, said objective lens and said range finder beingoperatively connected so that the functioning of the range findercoincides with the focusing of the objective lens, an illuminableprojector also built into the camera casing underneath and close to saidrange finder housing, said projector including a miniature electriclight bulb with filament, which bulb is in close proximity to theviewing lens of the range finder, and in. such relation thereto that therange finder viewing lens and said bulb may both be directed at the sametime toward the object to be photographed, and light con trolling meansfor lighting the filament of said bulb extending through. the cameracasing so as to be readily accessible to a hand of the operator whilefocusing the camera, a magnifier lens mounted in the housing in front ofsaid bulb. said filament being so positioned that its image whenprojected onto the object to be photographed is in universal focus fordistances greater than about five feet, whereby when said projector isilluminated and the image of said filament is projected onto the objectto be photographed, the said objective lens may then be speedily focusedupon the object to be photographed by the operator through thefunctioning-manipulation of the movable-element range finder, andsubstantially simultaneously with his act of illuminating the bulb bymanipulating said light-controlling means extending through the cameracasing.

EDSON S. HINELINE.

